LONDON, May 20 (Reuters) - Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton was jailed on Tuesday for six months after admitting to beating up a teenager during a night out.

The sentence was handed down at Liverpool Crown Court, where
the 25-year-old admitted charges of affray and assault
occasioning actual bodily harm, stemming from an early morning
fight in Liverpool in December.

Premier League Newcastle issued a short statement on their website although it remains to be seen how
they will deal with Barton's latest setback.

Barton had pleaded guilty last month but the court initially
imposed an order preventing details being published after the
player's lawyers argued it could prejudice a jury in a separate
assault trial he faces in Manchester.

The court lifted the reporting restrictions on Tuesday after
hearing arguments from media organisations that information
about Barton's history of bad behaviour was in the public
domain.

In the Manchester case, he is due to stand trial accused of
assaulting his former Manchester City team mate Ousmane Dabo in
a training ground incident in May last year that effectively
ended his career with the club. He has pleaded not guilty.

Barton, who has one England cap, joined Newcastle United for
£5.8 million ($11.33 million) in July 2007.

Despite Barton's chequered career, Professional Footballers'
Association (PFA) boss Gordon Taylor said he would receive the
support of the players' union.

'We shall continue to do all we can to help him get his life
back on track,' Taylor told BBC Radio Five Live.

'We won't give up hope. I hope this can prove a catalyst in
Joey Barton's life and his career because he does have ability
but does have demons regarding alcohol and anger management.'
(Additional reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris
and Sonia Oxley)